Panel assembly



March 27, 1962 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,026,977

AAAAAAAAAAA LY March 27, 1962 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,026,977

PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed March 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GORDON J.POLLOC/C By GILDERTL. F0h/LE5 ATTomExs- March 27, 1962 Filed March 13,1958 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,026,977

PANEL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTORJ GORDON. J. POL LOCK 6-.

71v (5% win' al March 27, 1962 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,026,977

PANEL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 13, 1958 INVENTORD 60800 JPOL LOCK 6. BY GILBERT L. POM/LE5. W AT TOP/V15 Y6.

March 1962 G. J. POLLOCK ETAL 3,026,977

PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed March 13, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q; 3 9- INVENTOMGORDON .l. POLLOC/f 5' By GILBERT L FOWLES A TTOQNEXS.

V amass? Patented Mar. 27, L362 3,026,977 PANEL ASEMBLY Gordon J.Pollock, Parma, and Gilbert L. Fowles, Avon, Ohio, assignors to The E.F. Hauserman Company, CleVelanm-Ohio, a corporation of Uhio FiledMar.13, 1958, Ser. No. 721,226 Claims. (Cl. 139-34) This invention relatesas indicated to a novel panel assembly, and more particularly to a newand improved construction and method of assembly whereby movablepartitions may be very quickly assembled and disassembled.

The use of movable partitions and wall panels, more especially steelpanels, has become increasingly general not only in large commercialestablishments and institutions such as manufacturing plants,laboratories and hospitals, but also in many ofthe newer and moreelaborate ofiice buildings. There is, moreover, an increasing interestin the use of such movable partitions in homes.

In some cases, an installation is expected to remain unchanged for anumber of years before shifting of the partitions may be desired. Inother cases, partitions may be shifted rather frequently to meetchanging conditions, or it may be desired to leave the supporting postsin place and merely change the type of partition to afiford a differentornamental effect. in a Word, there is considerable demand for a movablewall panel assembly which may be put up and taken down with greater easeand without necessarily employing skilled labor for the purpose.

In the light of the foregoing, it is accordingly an important object ofour invention to provide a movable panel assembly which may be erectedquickly and with ease and which may likewise readily be dismantled orreplaced.

Another object is to provide means for interengaging spaced posts withinterposed panels in a manner which is expeditious, yet affords, a.strong and reliable connection without detracting from the ornamentalappearance of the assembly.

Still another object is to provide a mode of assembling the panels tothe posts which will permit erection of the posts preliminarily (and, ifdesired, permanently), with the panels being subsequently removablyinterengaged therewith.

A further object is to provide means for thus interengaging panel sideedge portions with the opposed sides of such posts in a manner tendingto rigidity the entire assembly.

A still further object is to provide a post having camming means whichsimultaneously secures a panel with respect to the post and places thepanel in a desired position transversely of the post.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following descriptionv and the annexeddrawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the variousways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

in said annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a general descriptive view of a panel assembly embodying thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of bottom and top portions,respectively, of a post showing cam means used to position the panels ofour assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FlG. 3 illustrating spacedinsulated panels as initially engaging a,

FIG. 5 isa perspective view similar to FIG. 4 showing the panels at anintermediate position of installation and illustrating the use of aninner insulating wall seated in the post;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are vertical sections taken longitudinally of thepost, illustrating three consecutive steps in the installation of ournew panels;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section of a post taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 10showing provision of anti-rattling means;

FIG. l0is' a horizontal section of a post taken on the line lltli0 ofFIG. 9, just the panels of one side being illustrated, theopposed sidebeing similarly constructed; and

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section of a post with modified panel memberswhich are adapted to receive a window, trim strip, and the like.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and especially FIGS. 1to- 5 thereof, the embodiment shown includes horizontally spacedvertical posts generally indicated at l5'which are fixed to a floorchannel member 16- and to a ceiling channel member 17. Preferably, theposts 15 are interconnected by a rail or beam l8 secured to a bracket 19carried by each post in order to reinforce the panel structure. Sincethe types of channels and rails which may be used and the techniques ofsecuring these parts together are well-known in the art and do not forma part of the present invention, such types and techniques are notherein described in detail; In general, in the embodiment disclosed, thefloor channel member 16 may be fitted between adjacent base sockets Band held firmly in place by means of sheet metal spring clips 20 whichare snapped into one of several slots 21 of the base socket B and beardown against the bottom 22 of the channel 16. In a similar fashion, theceiling channel 17 may be fitted above ceiling sockets T and held inplace by sheet metal spring clipsv 23, the ends of which aresnapped intoslots provided in the ceiling sockets T.

Each post 15 has a recess in which side edge portions of. the panels areinstalled, and since ordinarily a continuousv wall comprising aplurality of sets of opposed panels will be required, the posts areprovided with two opposed recesses. As shown particularly to FIGS. 4 and5, the posts 15 may take the form of two opposed channels 24 of likestepped U-shape cross-section which are secured back to back. The bightportion of each channel has an ofl-set portion or secondary groove 25,for reasons hereinafter noted, and the attachment of channel to channelmay be made along these abutting off-set portions as by spot welding.The sides 25a of each channel 24 terminate in inturned flanges 2s.

A U-shaped liner or slide 27 fits within each channel 24, The flanges 26of each channel 24 abut against the edges of sides 28 of such liner toretain the latter while permitting relative longitudinal movementbetween a slide 27 and its channel 24. Each slide 27 carries retainingmeans for engaging and positioning panels. In one form, a pair ofcamming ears or fingers Z9 and 39 are fixed relatively to each slideand, as indicatfid in FIGS. 2 and 3., a plurality of sets of suchfingers will ordinarily be used, another set 2%: and 39a beingpositioned adjacent the other end of slide 27. In the embodimentillustrated, each slide has spaced openings 31 (FIG. 9) for mountingeach set of camming fingers, and such fingers are integral with,aconnecting or bight portion 32. The carnming fingers such as 29 and. 34pass through the openings 31, and the bight portion 32 is then securedto the back of the slide 27 as by spot welding. The ends of the fingersof each pair project upwardly in slightly divergent directions as shownat so in FIG. 6. The inner side edges of the fingers are beveled as bestshown by reference numeral 62 in FIG. 9 toward the bottoms of thechannel shaped slides 27.

Panel members 33 have inturned side edge portions 34 for insertionwithin a slide 27, terminating in a flange 35. The latter has inclinedslots or openings 36 in its edge to pass or avoid the camming fingers 29and 29a in order to reach the back of a slide 27. Upon the initialinsertion of a panel side 34 into a slide 27 in channel 24, the edges ofthe flanges 35 abut against the back and a side 23 of the slide 27 asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and this steadies the panel member 33 andfacilitates its easy assembly with a post 15.

Various modifications are possible with the present panel assembly. Forexample, the off-set portion or secondary groove 25 of the channel 24cooperates with the oflf-set portion of a companion channel to define aslot or groove 37 which extends longitudinally of the post 15. As shownin FIG. 5, a body of thermal and/ or acoustical insulation 38 may befitted in the groove 37 and disposed between opposed panels. Such a body38 may comprise asbestos, mineral, or glass fibers or other likematerials bonded into an integral batt or slab. In a like manner thepanels 33 may be backed with thermal and/or acoustical insulation 39 inthe form of honeycomb insulation and/ or batts of the previouslymentioned materials or the like.

Since the slides 27 are capable of longitudinal movement within achannel 24, there may be suflicient freedom of movement in someinstallations to result in rattling of the slide. When this isobjectionable, anti-rattling means are inserted to hold the slidesfirmly in place. Such means may take the form of a resilient supportinserted in the ofl-set portions or secondary grooves 25 to bear jointlyagainst a slide 27 and the back of the olfset portion 25. Preferably anarcuate leaf spring 40 is used as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. When thecamming or retaining fingers 29 and 30 are integral with a bight portion32 as previously mentioned, the lower end of the leaf spring 40 may bedropped against this bight portion (FIG. 9) and thereby retained inposition. The spring 40 will be carried by the bight portion 32 duringlongitudinal movement of a slide 27 relatively to a channel 24.

The panels also may be variously shaped to permit certain auxiliaryinstallations or to meet varying requirements. For instance, referringto FIG. 11, a pair of angled or bent sheet metal frame members may beinstalled as described within a post channel recess. In particular,panels generally indicated at 41 have sides 42 and 43 meetingsubstantially at right angles. Each side 43 has an inwardly directed endportion 44 terminating in a flange 45. These flanges have slots like theslots 36 of flanges 35 to avoid the camming fingers 29 and 30 and/orcamming fingers 29a and 30a and abut against slides 27 held as before inthe channels 24.

Sides 42 of the angled members 41 are directed toward a correspondingside 42 of a companion member and cooperate to form a seat or the liketo receive a decorative planar member. As shown in FIG. 11, one of thesides 42 which so cooperates has a rebent edge portion 46 withsuflicient overlap to abut against an inturned flange 47 of an adjacentside 42 and thereby define a groove. A sealing strip 48 fits within thegroove to receive a planar member 49 such as a pane of glass, plasticsheet, or other decorative or utilitarian sheet material. The side ofthe planar member 49 opposite to that received by the sealing strip 48is similarly mounted at an adjacent post.

The end portions 44 of adjacent panels 41 may also be ofi-set as at 50to form a groove 51. A trim or decorative strip 52 of U-shapedcross-section having resilient sides is snapped within the groove 51.The strip 52 may be recessed in the groove as shown, or flush with thesides 43, or project from the groove 51 past the sides 43.

The following is a description of installing the present assembly and isunderstood to be illustrative only and not to limit the invention asherein disclosed or set forth in the claims. The liners or slides 27 arefirst inserted in a channel 24. The liners are of shorter length thanthe channels and are preferably placed relatively near the bottom of thepost formed by the channels with the fingers or ears 29 and 30converging downwardly as shown. The posts 15 are assembled with thefloor and ceiling channels 16 and 17, respectively, and with rails 18 aspreviously mentioned. If anti-rattling means such as the leaf spring 4%)is to be used, they may be inserted in the off-set portions 25 at thistime. Finally, the panels 33 or 41 are installed.

Considering the panel 33 for purposes of illustration, the inturnedsides 34 are placed within the recess of a channel 24 with the slots 36in the flange 35 passing the camming fingers 29 and 29a until the flange35 strikes the back of liner 27 and preferably also bears against a leg28 of the liner. The parts are now in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and6. The panel 33 is allowed to drop by its own weight and rest on therail 18. This movement places the upper edges of the slots 36 behind theupper ends of the fingers 29 and 29a in the position shown by FIGS. 5and 7. At this time, the flange 35 may have left its contact with acorner of slide 27 as indicated by FIG. 7, or the flange 35 may stillabut against such corner, depending on the taper or slope of the cammingfingers 29 and 29a or that of the slots 36 which preferably also arebeveled or tapered as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 to aid the positioningof the panels 33 during the relative movement between the cammingfingers 29 and 29a and the flange 35. In any event, the flange 35 ofpanel 33 is not yet desirably positioned transversely of channel 24, andthere still is play or freedom of movement between panel 33 and slide27. The slide 27 is now forced upwardly, as by a suitable tool, furtherto interengage the camming fingers 29 and 29a with the slots 36. Thisresults in a dual camming action in which the inner edges of a cammingfinger and the edges of a mating slot mutually ride on each other.First, due to the convergence of the strips 29 and 29a toward slide 27,the flange 35 and accompanying panel 33 are cammed tightly against theback of slide 27; second and simultaneously, due to the convergence orflaring of the camming fingers 29 and 29a toward strips 30 and 3011,that is, toward the center of the liner 27, the flange 35 andaccompanying panel 33 are cammed transversely of the slide 27 to adesired predetermined position. In short, the flange 35 and panel 33travel in angularly related directions both toward and across a post 15.When the installation of a panel follows the prior installation ofanother adjacent panel or when companion panels are simultaneouslyinstalled, the slides 34 thereof are drawn together in abutting relationas shown in FIG. 8. The posts 15 and panels 33 are disassembled in anorder reversed to that described.

It will be apparent that the movement of slide 27 relatively to channel24 is not necessary to an installation. The camming strips or lugs suchas 29 and 30 can if desired be made integral with a post 15 and thepanels dropped in position, so that the resulting movement of the panelrelatively to the post can be relied on to provide the camming action asdescribed. Any lateral opening in such panel assembly as along the flooror ceiling can be closed ofi, if desired, by conventional flexibleclosure strips.

As used herein and in the claims, abutting relation or forms thereof donot necessarily mean a contacting relation but include as well abordering or close contiguous relation.

It will be seen from the foregoing that we have provided a panelassembly which can be quickly erected or dismantled or parts thereofreplaced. Our panel assembly has means for interengaging spaced apartposts with panels which affords a strong and reliable connection withoutdetracting from the appearance of the assembly. These and otheradvantages are realized by camming means which simultaneously secure apanel with respect to a post and with respect to other panelsmounted inthe same post.

A partition system somewhat similar in certain respects to the presentpanel assembly is described and claimed in the copending application,Serial No. 663,643.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention:

1. A panel assembly including a post of substantially channelcross-section, a channel-shaped slide substantially conforming to suchcross-section and retained therein for movement relative to the post, apair of camming strips fixed relatively to the slide and havingpanel-engaging edges, said edges converging in one direction toward theslide and in another angularly related direction toward each other, apair of generally U-shaped panels, each panel having a flange forsimultaneous disposition in the channel cross-section, each flangehaving a slot to pass a camming strip therethrough and become disposedbetween the camming strip and the channel-shaped slide, said cammingstrips engaging the sides of the slots upon relative movement betweenthe slide and the flanges to urge said flanges in one direction towardthe slide by means of the convergence of the strips toward said slideand concomitantly forcing the panels together in another direction intoa substantially abutting relation by means of the convergence of saidstrips toward each other.

2. A panel assembly including a post of substantially U-shapedcross-section with the sides thereof having inwardly turned flanges,U-shaped liner member substantially conforming to and nesting within thepost, the legs of the U-shaped liner abutting against such flanges ofthe post and being thereby retained for longitudinal movement relativeto the post, a pair of retaining strips fixed with respect to the linermember and having panelengaging edges, said edges converging in onedirection toward the liner member and in another angularly relateddirection toward each other, a pair of generally U-shaped panel membershaving the sides thereof terminating in flanges, at least one flange ofeach panel member having a camming slot to pass a retaining strip andabut against the bight portion of the U-shaped liner member and in aside by side relation with a corresponding flange of the other panelmember, said panel-engaging edges of the retaining strips engaging thesides of said camming slots upon relative movement between said linermember and panel flanges to cam said panel flanges in one directiontoward the liner member by means of the convergence of the edges of theretaining strips toward the liner member and concomitantly to cam thepanel members in another direction into a substantially abuttingrelationship by means of the convergence of said edges of the stripstoward each other.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the adjacent sides of said pair ofgenerally U-shaped panel members have opposed off-set portions to definea groove adapted to receive therein a trim strip and the like.

4. A panel assembly including a post of substantially U-shapedcross-section with the bight section thereof having a rearwardly olf-setportion, a liner member of U-shaped cross-section substantiallyconforming to and nesting with the post, means to retain the linermember within the post and adapt said liner member for relativelongitudinal movement therewith, resilient means disposed within theoff-set portion of the post to eliminate rattling of the liner member, apair of retaining strips fixed with respect to the liner member andhaving panel engaging edges, said edges converging in one directiontoward the liner member and in another angularly related directiontoward each other, a pair of generally U-shaped panel members having thesides thereof terminating in flanges, at least one flange of each panelmember having a slotto pass a retaining strip and abut against the bightportion of the U-shaped liner member and in a side by side relation witha corresponding flange of the other panel member, said panel-engagingedges of the retaining strips engaging the sides of said slots uponrelative movement between said liner member and panel flanges to earnsaid panel flanges in one direction toward the liner member by means ofthe convergence of the edges of the retaining strips toward the linermember and concomitantly to cam the panel members in another directioninto a substantially abutting relationship by means of the convergenceof said edges of the strips toward each other.

5. The panel assembly of claim 4 wherein said retaining strips areformed integrally into a U-shaped member with the legs thereof definingthe strips and extending through the liner member into the positionstated, and the bight portion of said integrally U-shaped member iscarried behind the liner member and within the rearwardly off-setportion of the post.

6. The panel assembly of claim 5 wherein said resilient me'ans disposedin the off-set portion of the post is a leaf spring which bears againstsaid off-set portion and the liner member, and one end of the leafspring rests on the bight portion of the integrally U-shaped memberdisposed within the rearwardly off-set portion of the post.

'7. A panel assembly including a post comprising a pair of channelmembers of substantially U-shaped crosssection with the bight sectionsthereof having a rearwardly off-set portion, said off-set portions beingstationed back to back and cooperating to define a longitudinal recessalong the post, a body of insulating material stationed in said recessand extending away from the post, a liner member of substantiallyU-shaped cross-section conforming to and nesting within each channelmember, means to retain each liner member within its respective channelmember and adapt the liner member for relative longitudinal movementtherewith, a pair of retaining clips fixed with respect to each linermember and having panelengaging edges, said edges being shaped toconverge in one direction toward the liner member and in anotherangularly related direction toward each other, a pair of generallyU-shaped panels having side flanges for mutual insertion in each channelmember to form a duplicate set of panels extending from the post andsubstantially parallel to said insulating body, said flanges of thepanels having longitudinally disposed slots to pass the retaining clipsand abut against the back of the liner member substantially in a side byside relation with a flange of a companion panel, said edges of theretaining clips engaging the sides of the slots upon relative movementbetween said liner members and panel flanges to cam the panel flanges inone direction toward their respective channel members by means of theconvergence of said edges of the retaining clips toward said linermembers and concomitantly to cam the panels in another direction towardone another substantially parallel to said insulating body and intosubstantially abutting relation by means of the convergence of the edgesof the retaining clips toward each other.

8. A panel assembly adapted to receive a planar member including a posthaving opposed channel sections, a pair of angled panel members'forattachment to the post, one side of each panel member being disposedwithin one of the opposed channel sections and there terminating in aflange,'the other sides of the panel members being angled toward eachother and adapted to receive therebetween said planar member, a cammingstrip carried by V the post in each of said channel sections having apanelengaging edge which converges toward the post and has a lateralbend, the flange of said one side of each panelmember having a slot topass by said camming strip and abut against a back of a channel section,said panel-engaging edge of the strip urging said flange in onedirection toward said channel back upon relative movement between saidstrip and the panel flange and such lateral bend of the camming stripsimultaneously forcing said flange in a second angularly relateddirection to a predetermined position transversely of its respectivechannel section.

9. A panel assembly adapted to receive a planar member including a posthaving opposed recesses therein, a liner member substantially conformingto each recess and retained therein for movement relative to the post, apair of camming strips fixed relatively to each liner member and havingpanel-engaging edges, said edges converging in one direction toward suchliner member and in another angularly related direction toward eachother, a pair of bent panel attachments for each recess, one side ofeach bent panel attachment having a flange for mutual seating in arecess with a flange of a companion panel attachment, each flange havinga slot to pass a camming strip theretbrough and become disposed betweenthe camming strip and the liner member, said panel-engaging edges of thecamming strips engaging the sides of such slots upon relative movementbetween the liner member and panel flanges to urge such flanges in onedirection toward the liner member by means of the convergence of saidedges of the camming strips toward the liner member and concomitantlyforcing said one side of each companion panel attachment in anotherdirection into a substantially abutting relation with respect to thecompanion panel by means of the convergence of said edges of the stripstoward each other, the

8 remaining sides of each panel attachment being bent toward acorresponding remaining side of a panel attachment similarly secured inan opposed recess of the post and defining therebetween a groove toreceive therein said planar member.

10. A wall panel assembly including a post having a vertically extendingchannel, a pair of panels each having vertical inturned margin portionsdisposed in such channel in loosely abutting relationship, a slideretained in said post channel for vertical reciprocation therein,upstanding camming figures on said slide for reciprocation therewith,said camming fingers having panel-engaging edges converging in onedirection toward the slide and in another angularly related directiontoward each other, said panel margin portions having slots through whichsaid fingers pass, the engaging edges of said slots and finger edgesbeing relatively contoured to draw said panels inwardly toward said postand simultaneously to draw said margin portions toward each other intotightly abutting relationship upon reciprocation of said slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,094,278 Van den Plas Apr. 21, 1914 1,231,289 Otte June 26, 19171,716,624 Dawson June 11, 1929 1,726,595 Swanson Sept. 3, 1929 2,128,797Bohnsack Aug. 30, 1938 2,435,286 Manhard Feb. 3, 1948 2,673,775Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 2,914,147 Millard Nov. 24, 1959

